Folding furniture



Dec. 3, 1940.

B. L'.. LAURSEN FOLDING FURNITURE VFied July 23, 1937 illlliaff'zf/La/f,5. L. L, AURSEN 5l] @fa/maag wi: f..

Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

' My present invention pertains to folding furniture particularly seats.

An' object visto produce metal or wood furni- A lture that maybecompactly folded and set in a Y standard 4 Wall flush with theplaster orWall surface or set against a Wall or partition. Another object-istoprovide a structure with a panel lfrontfclosure, the'face of which maybe used as a seat and which is devoid of hinges, pulls, knobs orpushplates, thus adding to its attractiveness, usefulness and noveltywithout giving the slightest hint of its use when installed rinlawall orpartition.

Another object is to so design the structure that the lvarious'component parts will be automatic in action so `that the panel front ofthe seat structure maybelowered with greater safety `than in the vcaseofpresent devices, from inoperative to operative position by pressing onthe extreme top endA of the panel front andv returnedy with' vslighteffort without the necessity of making any adjustments or use of anyfasten'- ing-devices'whatsoever. y

Another object is to provide a seat whichwill be automatically lockedand non-collapsible in `either its operative or inoperative positionwithlouttheuse of catches, hooks, springs or fasteners of any kindwhatsoever.

Another object is toV so construct the device `as to provide anautomatic retarding effect when its panels are moved into theiroperative position.

Another object is to so construct the movable parts of the device thatthey will be approximately self-balanced and safe even in the hands ofchildren.

` Further and other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forthinA the accompanying specification and claims and shown in the drawing,which by way of illustration shows what is now considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front View of a cabinet structure showing the seat inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing a seat structurein folded inoperative position. f

Fig. 3 is a sectional View showing the seat structure in operativeposition; in addition showing by broken lines the structure ready tomove into inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a View showing the lower portion of the groove in the sidemembers.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Although my invention is suitable for a variety of furniture structures,I have chosen to illus- (ci. s-ss) trate and describe it as applied to adinette seat.

The `arrangement 'herein shown, referring to the drawing, comprises aseat I5. The seat is mounted in a cabinet I6 in such relationship thatwhen the seat is not wanted for use it may be folded with Very littleeffort into the cabinet I6. The cabinet I6 comprises a bottom member 24,back member I8 and a double member horizontal topand wall member Il.Inner horizontal member 2l) has a groove 42 in the underside of itsforward portion which will allow a slight rise of seat top I5, whenmoved into operative or inoperative positions. The inner member andouter wall member I'I cooperate to form the support for the seat in allpositions. 'In verticalt position the seat top`|5 forms the smoothpanel; front closure of the cabinet. The .cabinet may be incorporated inor setagainst a'wall or par tition.

Thev cabinet end of seat I5 has fastened to it.' across bar 34 havingtrunnion ends engaging the `grooves 4I! in'the cabinet Wall members l211(see Figs. 3 and 4). Each groove comprises al short forwardly extendingportion, a long upward and forwardly directed portion having at itstopf` a wedge shapedterminal portion 3 I `clearly shown -in Fig.,3.

1The construction and operation of 'seat struc.- ture I5 may best beunderstood by referring to Fig. 3 showing the seat I5 in operativeposition.- The seat top I5 serves as a `closure member for cabinet whenin inoperative position orfolded position. On the underside of seatftopI5 atits 4extreme top end isfastened a cross-bar having trunnion endswhich are overlapped by vertical brace members 35, fastened edgewiseclose to the outer edges of top I5. Secured to underside of top I5 is across-bar 4I which engages the cabinet back I8 when the top I5 is pushedinwardly to initiate the opening movement of said top into operativeposition. The strut member 36 is pivotally engaged at its top end tobrace members 35 by round cross-bar 43 at a point rearward of its hinge3l, automatically holding the seat I5 in inoperative position withoutfasteners. The main supporting, short strut 38 is also pivotallyfastened to brace members 35 by round crossbar M and is guidedautomatically into both operative and inoperative positions by rod 39which connects the struts 36 and 38. It is evident that due to theconstruction of this seat structure I5 an enormous weight can be placedupon it without danger of breaking or collapse thereof when it is inoperative position, Fig. 3. The weight` is supported by strut 38 whichis fastened directly under top I5, the cross bar 34 resting in theforward portions of grooves 40. It is also evident that when seat I5 isin operative position the cross bar 34 is held absolutely stationary inthe forward extending portion of grooves 40 regardless of the amount ofweight that may be placed upon any point of the seat surface. The strut36 is the guiding member and does not carry any weight placed upon topI5 as strut 38 and cross bar 34 serve to support seat I5 and the weightof the persons seated thereon. Y

To bring seat I5 from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2 intooperative position shown in Fig. 3 simply press on the extreme upperportion of top I5; this motion slightly raises the top end of seat I5into groove -42 provided on the underside of cabinet top member 20 andthe member 34 moves into the upper wedge-shaped portion of grooves 40and the cross bar 4I engages the cabinet back I8 rocking the seat top I5over its center of gravity causing it to open outwardly .at its' lowerend. In this position, it is evident that the top I5 is overbalanced andguided by member 34 running in the grooves 40 will move downwardlyautomatically or with very little effort into its operative position.The forward surface of cross bar 34 in the downward movement will bearagainst the front sides of grooves 40. As these grooves are slopedrearwardly from 'thetop downwards an important retarding effect isproduced and this braking action prevents the seat I5 from loweringunder its own weight too quickly. i

The operator moves seat I5 into folded position by lifting the outerfree end slightly and pushes cross bar 34 rearwardly into the verticalportion of groove 40. When in this position he gives seat I5 a slightupward lift at its inner end and it slides automatically into foldedposition and does not require any fasteners to keep it closed.

The inter-relationship of the members of the structure is such that theyall fold compactly into the space between front closure top I5 and theback I8 of the cabinet I6 substantially as herein described.

It is to be understood that the invention is not `limited to theconstructions herein specifically illustrated but is intended to includeall arrangements coming within the scope of the following claims. What Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A cabinet structure comprising a rear member, bottomY member,vertically disposed side members and a top member secured to the upperends of said side members, a closure panel adapted to substantiallyextend between the top, bottom and said side members, a trunnion piecesecured to said panel and having its ends projecting beyond the sidesthereof, each of said side members having a groove into which one end ofsaid trunnion piece extends, each of said grooves having a substantiallyhorizontal portion near its lowernend, and a long straight portion whichinclines rearwardly from the top downwardly, said incline retarding thedownward movement of the closure member and a curved portion connectingthe bottom of said straight portion to said horizontal portion andshaped to form a stop for the trunnion piece when positioned in saidhorizontal portion, and the straight portion terminating at its upperend in an enlarged, wedge shaped portion whereby the upper end of saidclosure panel may be moved rearwardly to initiate the opening thereof.

2. A cabinet structure comprising a rear member, bottom member,vertically disposed side members and a top member secured to the upperends of said side members, a closure panel adapted to substantiallyextend between the top, bottom and the said side members, a trunnionpiece secured to said panel and having its ends projecting beyond thesides thereof, each of said side members having a groove into which oneend of said trunnion piece extends, each of said grooves having a longstraight portion which is inclined rearwardly from top to bottom, saidinoline retarding the downward movementof the closure panel and saidgroove terminating at the bottom in a forwardly extending, straighthorizontal portion, in which the said trunnion piece is seated when saidclosure panel is in horizontal position, and the straight portionterminating at its upper end in an enlarged wedge shaped portion wherebythe upper end of said closure panel may be moved rearwardly to initiatethe opening thereof, and Vmeans for supporting said closure panel in ahorizontal position whereby it may serve as a seat. y

3. The device of claim 2 having a transversely extending brace membersecured to the rear of its front closure panel at a distance from itsupper end whereby said brace member engages said rear member when theupper end of said closure panel is pushed inwardly to initiate theopening movement of said panel into its operative, horizontal position.

BRUNO LAURIS LAURSEN.

